Amusement device



2 sheets-'sheet 1 F. CHAPMAN MUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Dec. 25. 1925 31o/vanter, @Hap/14M atteind,

June l5 1926.

Patente-d June 15, 1926.

UNITED S'ITESy `.Z-LIVIU'SEMEN? DEVICE. i

Application .iiledDecember 23, 1825. `Serial No. 77,339.

'This invention is directed to an amusementdev-ice, in which a series of passenger Vcarrying cars are movable fronianinoperative orloadingposition, vat which the pasn sengcrs may readily enter or leave the cars, to an .elevated position,with the cars in `the latter position adapted to revolve as a unit .about an. axis,-to. provide .the thrillingride .for which the device isdesigned.

.The `Construction as' a whole Isimulates in .its general `structure `a gigantic Iumbrella, with therodformingthe axis andthe pasi senger carrying. cars supported at the ends of 4elements simulating theribs oftheuinbrella, cooperating elements simulating the umbrellastretchers being connected to the ribsand toa member simulating the runner -of the u1nbrella,.by.which the ribs and thereby the cars may bemoved from a lowered, or

umbrella closed position, to disposethe cars convenient to a platform to permit thepassengers to enter or leave the cars, the actuating apparatus initially raising ythe runner element and thereby the ribsto elevate the cars above-.the ground andat the same time moving .them outwardly, following which the structure as an entiretyis revolved about the ,axis or umbrella rod.

TheEinvention.comprehends a simple elii- -cient means for operating the parts so that the cars may be readily raised-orlowered vandzrevolved about the axis ofthe device after being elevated.

Theinvention is illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, inwhich: p

Fig. .1 isa view in elevationiof the improved ainusementdevice. Fig. 2 isa section on line 2-,2 of 1.

Fig. 8 is. aY vertical section of the operating tor. rIhe upper portion of the elevator is of cylindrical form with the wall of suflicient thickness to sustain the weight of they parts, while the lowerportion of such elevator is exteriorly formed to provide a worm thread 5. The lower end of the elevator isiprovided with or has secured thereto a control member, inthe form of a ring-like eXtension below the worin thread, with such ringlilre extension provided with a radiating lug 7, the purpose of which will later appear. A crown head 8 isV rotatably supported upon the upper end of shaft .1, this crown head being formed to provide cooperating pairs of radiating arms 9 between which lis pivotally supported bars 10, simulating the ribsV of the umbrella-like structure, andhereim after termed the rib bars. -These rib bars carryr at their outer or V'free ends` any convenient form or type of carriage or car 11-for the reception of passengers, the particular construction of this car being without importaiice in the prescntinvention.

rlhe runner sleeve- 3 is formed atitsjuncture with the wornrthread portion, with an ,annular ringlike extension 12 having radiating` ,arms in pairs at 13 to pivotally receive and support the lower ends of bars 14, the outer or free ends of which are pivotally connected at 15 to the-rib bars 10, these'bars 14 serving a function similar to that of and beinghereinafter termed stretcher bars.

Therunner sleeve 3 and the crown head 8 are held against relative rotative movement Vbut permitted independent relative sliding liovement through the `medium of-rods 16, secured -in the crown head ,and ypassing through sleevelike guides'l formed on-the runner sleeve. 3. Thus the sleeve may-move lup and down relative to the crown head,but

cannot rotate independentlvof such head. The crown head is formed with diametrically opposed recesses 18 and the runner sleeve 3 is formed with correspondingpro- Yjections 19, adapted .when Y the runner v,sleeve has reached.itsupper limit ofvmovement to interlock the sleeve and crown-headzto insure. a positive rotation of the crown headin the similar operation of the runner sleeve.

Aloading platform 2O is arranged in line with the juncture between the plain and threaded portion of the runner sleeve when this element is in llowered position. rIhis ,platform `constitutes tlielimit of .lowefad movement or cliccare 'd provides a means array y enter er' .leave by which the .pas

the cars. Of course the platform may be elevated above the ground surface to receive the other parts below the platform, or such platform may constitute the ground surface and the relatively lower parts be arranged 1n a pit. Arranged in line with the platformQO is a main `gear 21 formed for cooperation through a threaded interior 22 with the threaded portion 5 of the runner sleeve. This gear 2l is operated through an intermediate gear 23 by a shaft 2:4 actuated from a suitable source of power through appropriate shafts in gearing indicated at guide member 2G is arranged lengthwise the threaded portion of the runner sleeve, this guide member extending from the base 2 to the platfori'n 20. The guide member is in the form of a vertically channeled bar 2T, with the channel of a size to slidably receive the lug 7 of the control member 6. At an appropriate point near the upper end, walls of the guide member are cut out at 28 to permit the lug T to move laterally7 free of the guide member. Pivotally supported upon the guide meniber is a latch 29, the operative portion of which is adapted, when the latch is in actuated position, to close the opening 252 in one wall of the guide member, the position of the latch being controlled through an operating cable or rod 30. Chains 3l may be used to connect the rib bars 10 to the crown head 8, serving to prevent any undue spreading of the rib bars in the movement of the parts after the carriages have been elevated. Assuming the parts in normal or inoperated positions, as indicated in F Il, it ill be noted that the runner sleeve 3 is at its lowest limit of movement, the passenger cars l1 are resting on or innncdiately adjacent the platform-20, the lug T is in the lower end of the guide Q6, nd in that simulation heretofore referred to, the umbrella structure may be said to be closed. Then applying power, the gear 2l driven, but the runner sleeve cannot rotate, incident to the tit-:ed path of travel of the lug 7 in the guide 26, the operation of the gear 2l will, through the worm thread formation 5 of the runner sleeve, move said sleeve upwardly. This operation tends to raise the rib bars l0, and thereby the passer r cars ll, through pressure on said rib baiby the stretcher bars 14, this movement continuing until the carriages or cars nave reached the .fully elevated position and the projections 19 on the runner sleeve 3 are interloclred in the recesses 18 in the crown head 8. As this interlocking cooperation talres place, the lug 7 has reached the cut out 28 of the guide 26, and therefore further operation of the gear 2l will cause the runner sleeve, crown head, and passenger cars carried thereby to revolve about the shaft l as a center. In returning the cars to the platform to discharge the passengers, thel driving force of the gear 2l is gradually reduced and as the cars come to rest, the latch 29 is moved to close the opening 28 in the wall of the guide 2G. rEhe power is reversed, and as the guide reaches the stop position in rotation, the rotative movement of the runner sleeve is interrupted, and the further operation of the gear will cause the sleeve to move downward by feeding the same through the worm thread cooperation. This lowers the ruimer sleeve, stretcher' bars, rib bars, and carriages, the movement being continued. until all parts arereturned to normal position.

It is intended that the simulation of the umbrella be further carried out by providing the rib bars with suitable covering as a whole in the form of any canopy construction, to simulate the umbrella covering. This canopy is not illustrated as it may or may not be used, and if illustrated, would tend to confuse the detail.

The structure as a whole provides a simple form of amusement device in which passengers maybe safely raised to considerable heights and caused to follow a circular path of travel at that height, thereby imparting a decided thrill and amusement to the passonger.

Claims:

l. An amusement device simulating an umbrella structure and comprising a fixed shaft, a sleeve slidable on the shaft, pa. senger oar carrying arms pivotally and rotatably connected to the upper end of the shaft, a driving gear, means for iolc ing the sleeve against rotative movement tri-oughout a predetermined longitudinal movement ot such sleeve, said holding means boing released following such prefhtermiucd movement of the sleeve, and cooperative means on the gear and sleeve to canse a rotative movement of the gear to compel longitudinal. movement of the sleeve during effective action of said holding means, said cooperative means locking the sleeve and gear for rotative movement of the sleeve iu "the operation ofthe gear following the release of the holding means.

An amusement device comprising a lined sleeve shaft, a crown head rotatable on the upper end of the shaft, a series of passenger car carrying bars pivotally connected to the crown head, a sleeve slidable on the shaft and having bars connected to the first mentioned bars, a gear, a power driven member cooperating with the sleeve, means for holding the sleeve against rotative movement during a predetermined longitudinal movement of the sleeve, said holding means being thereafter released, and means for connecting the sleeve and member to cause the member When operated to move the sleeve longitudinally while the holding means is eiective and to rotate the sleeve on the release ot' the holding means.

'8. An amusement device comprising a iixed shaft, a crown head rotatably mounted on the upper end of the shaft, passenger carrying bars connected to the crown head, a sleeve slidable on the shai't and formed at its lower end to provide a. worm thread, a gear having threaded cooperation with the worm thread, and means to prevent the sleeves from turning in the driving cooperation of the gear and worm thread while compelling a vertical movement of the sleeve through such threaded cooperation, said means being releasable at a predetermined point in the vertical movement ot the sleeve to thereafter permit a simultaneous rotative movement of the gear and sleeve.`

4. An amusement device comprising a fixed shaft, a crown headrotatable on the upper end of the shaft, passenger' car supporting bars pivotally` connected to the crown head, a sleeve slidable and rotatable on the shaft, the lower end of the sleeve being formed as a worm thread, bars leading from the sleeve to the first mentioned bars to raise the latter in the vertical movement o't the sleeve, a driving gear having threaded cooperation with the worm thread of the sleeve, a lug radiating from the sleeve, and a guide to prevent rotative movement of the sleeve through cooperation with the lug.

5. An amusement device comprising a fixed shaft, a crown head rotatable on the upper end of the shaft, passenger car supporting bars pivotally connected to the crown head, a sleeve slidable and rotatable on the shaft, the lower end of the sleeve being formed as a worm thread, bars leading from the sleeve to the first mentioned bars to raise the latter in the vertical movement ot the sleeve, a driving gear having threaded cooperation with the wormthread of the sleeve, a lug radiating Jtrom the sleeve, a guide to slidably receive the lug and prevent rotative movement of the sleeve, said lguide being 'formed with an opening to permit the passage of the lug therethrough Jfollowing a predetermined vertical movement o'f the sleeve, and a manually operable latch to close said opening.

6. An elevating and rotating mechanism for amusement devices, including a. sleeve mounted for longitudinal and rotative movement, a. power driven element encircling the sleeve and having threaded connection therewith, and a projection carried by the sleeve and cooperating with a xed guide to prevent rotative movement of theasleeve during such cooperation, the member acting through its threaded cooperation with the sleeve to move the sleeve longitudinally during the cooperation of the stop and guide, the member further act-ing to rotate the sleeve when the stop is reeof the guide.

7. An elevating and rotating means for amusement devices including a power driven member, a sleeve arranged within said member and having threaded cooperation with the member, a projection from the sleeve, a iixed guide with which the projection cooperates to hold the sleeve against rotation during a predetermined operation of the member and thereby cause the threaded cooperation between the member and sleeve to move the sleeve longitudinally,the threaded cooperation between lthe member and sleeve serving to interlock the parts to compel a rotative movement of the sleeve in the operation of the member when the stop is free of the guide. f

8. An elevating and rotating means for amusement devices including a power driven member, a sleeve arranged within said member and having threaded cooperation with the member, a. projection from the sleeve, a iiXed guide with which the projection cooperates to hold the sleeve against rotation during a predetermined operation of the member and thereby cause the threaded cooperation between the member and sleeve to move the sleeve longitudinally, the threaded cooperation between the member and sleeve serving to interlock the parts to compel a rotative movement oit the sleeve in the operation oi" the member when the stop is Jree of the guide, and manually operable means to compel an interlocking cooperation of the projection and guide during reverse rotative movement of the sleeve and member to interrupt the rotative movement of the sleeve and compel a reverse longitudinal movement.

In testimony whereof l afx my signature. i i m FRANK CHAPMAN. [e 5.] 

